Fruit Trees - Questions

[broadway]

Morning Folks

As some of you know I have recently acquired an allotment

After hacking my way through it the final count is 6 fruit trees (Well I'm assuming they are all fruit trees).

One seems to be apple, one pear, the other four no idea, no fruit or flowers at all. I now know the plot has been empty two years so they have not been pruned for a while.

Any reason why these four show no fruit growth?

Should I hard prune all trees in winter / spring?

Some are quite tall, can I lop a few feet off the top?

Thanks in advance.....

[veggiechicken]

If you post photos of the leaves we may be able to identify them as a start.

[broadway]

If you post photos of the leaves we may be able to identify them as a start.

Hi VG

I guessed that would be the first question, I'll get some tomorrow:-)

[burnie]

Pruning is best left until the plant is dormant, so there's no rush to do anything just yet if you are planning to keep the trees.

[broadway]

Pruning is best left until the plant is dormant, so there's no rush to do anything just yet if you are planning to keep the trees.

Thanks Burnie

I'm happy to keep them if they will produce fruit:-)

As you say I have plenty of time, I need to sort out the other 95% of the plot first!!

[nickdub]

My general advice on pruning is if in doubt about why you are doing it then don't do it. If the tree is tall and young it may be that it will grow too large for the available space - I'd still give it at least a year to see how things go though.

As to why some trees have no fruit that happens for a variety of reasons including the trees being to young, unsuccessful pollination or starvation leading to biennial bearing.

[FB.]

My general advice on pruning is if in doubt about why you are doing it then don't do it.

Yep, 'if in doubt, do nowt'.

[fluffybunnyuk]

A good investment in a book on pruning fruit trees would be good. You can take it to the allotment and compare the pictures.
Pruning isnt a one size fits all thing. Theres so many things to take into account like space around the trees, space in the trees canopy ,tree health, and so many other things.
Start with the simple things given its summer. Like does it have leaves? if not, is it dead or is there a reason why not? Is it watered sufficiently? Is the canopy full? Trees that struggle tend not to grow leaf cover at the peak of the tree. All these things and more can give you hints about the trees health.
Dont forget the buzzing bees. Are there pollinators around? what is the biodiversity of the plot?
Probably best to take paper and pencil too, to make notes on each tree. Then you should have a better idea of what needs fixing.

[broadway]

Thanks for the comments / advice folks,

As I said I'll get some photos today.

The trees do seem to have ample leaves but have been surrounded / smoothered by weeds for at least the last 2 years. As for watering it would have been whatever came from the clouds

[broadway]

Ok as promised some photos.

Having a proper look I believe there are 2 apples, a pear, and 3 unknowns.

[broadway]

2nd lot of pictures

[veggiechicken]

I wouldn't do anything with those trees - they look good to me!
First one maybe a plum.

[fluffybunnyuk]

They look really nice!!! albeit a little cramped, you can see the canopy interference between them.
As to what i'd do when the fruits mature , bring a big bag . No make that a really big bag, and some fruit pickers. Make sure you pick all the fruit. That way the trees know to put out more next year.
I hope you like plum and apple, and pear pies....just dont forget a dollop of ice-cream.
In the gap of the first branch in the middle one theres probably room for a bee hotel. Chop up some bamboo, tie it together and wedge it in the gap. Great opportunities to attract pollinators.
You might want a hedgehog hole in the fence too. They'll eat all your slugs. And a small tray of water with stones in as a feeding station.
Nice plot.

[nickdub]

Look to be a good groups of trees and definitely worth keeping.

My general feeling is that they are OK for now, but if they were mine I'd be digging them up this winter and :-
a) moving them away from the scrub-land behind them so they get plenty of air and light all round
b) moving them further apart from one another - they look like they have a lot of growing still to do and if so they'll be too close together when bigger - I'd give them 25' from each other and 20' from the fence line if possible
The space between isn't wasted when they are growing bigger, as you can plant veg or soft fruit in the gaps and something like a loganberry or similar against the fence. If OTH you want dwarf trees and these aren't it, you may have to buy in some other root-stocks and graft them over.

Finally the first two individual photos are a plum and an apple - not sure about the third and the others you already know from the fruit.

[ameno]

The non fruiting trees, by order of your photos, are plum, apple, pear, in that order.